5 Signs Of A Scam When Selling On Facebook Marketplace

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If you’re in the reselling business, you will deal with scams from time to time. When communicating about items and payment, it’s always better to take a minute to slow down if things are starting to go off track. If you have a gut feeling that something isn’t right, it probably isn’t.

We’re going to dive into five common scams you might see if you are selling on local apps like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist. These are the most common ones we have dealt with throughout our reselling career. 

Scam #1 — They Ask For Personal Information

Right up front, a scammer might ask you your email or phone number, but don’t give them all your personal information.

If somebody's reaching out and doing that, typically any of these marketplaces they are going to set up a meeting point with you to where you can meet up with them. Message them in the app, stay in the app. Don’t hand out your address or phone number. Be on the lookout for people trying to get too much information from you.

Typically if someone does want to connect with you via telephone, they’ll reach out and give you their number. We don’t share our number unless someone has reached out and said, “Hey, this is my phone number. You can contact me to set up the arrangements.”

Stay on the platform as long as you can. 

Scam #2 — “I Sent You Payment”

Sometimes they want your email so they can “email you a confirmation” of payment, which means they’ll send you a photoshop of a payment and it’s not really in your account. 

We actually had someone try that and the guy got on the phone with me. It was the only time we’ve had a scammer get on the phone. He sent me a PDF or a picture, that he sent payment and the payment was coming my way. But my bank account didn’t have it so I knew it was a scam. Until I see it in the account I won’t send the item. 

People are going to extreme lengths to scam people so just protect yourself and be careful. 

If somebody does want your email address and they're trying to pay you through Zelle or Venmo while you’re meeting in person, make sure you have the app open and see the money come through before you hand over the item.

Scam #3 — Gift Cards

Don’t ever buy gift cards to release funds. They’re not sending you legit money; they’re just trying to get money from gift cards. 

Some people will tell you, “Hey, go get me $200 in gift cards and I'll give you a thousand dollars for this item, but I need $200.” And just know it's a scam. Anytime they're trying to get you to buy gift cards when you're trying to sell something to them, stay away from it.

Scam #4 — Wanting To Overpay For An Item

This usually happens when you first list something and one of the first people to message you is a scammer. If you have an item listed for $200 they might offer you $500 or $250. Anytime they’re offering something extra for the item, it's usually a big red flag. 

They’ll ask you to hold the item while they send you the money and will have someone come and pick it up once the check clears. They’ll ask for your bank account info for the cashier’s check. Stay away from it.

I know if I want something, I'm not paying more than I have to. Typically I'm offering people less money than what they're asking. The only time it might happen legitimately is if you have a super hot item and someone wants to pay you $20 extra or something to get prioritized as the buyer. And they’ll usually want to meet up with you right away so they can get it. They won’t ask for your routing number or other personal info. 

Scam #5 — Family Picking It Up

Number five is, “My cousin's uncle's brother had an emergency, so somebody else is going to pick it up.” This one is also probably tied into gift cards. If someone else is picking it up, it’s a red flag. Not always true, but generally. If it’s a furniture item, maybe they actually need to have someone with a truck pick it up. But usually people will meet you and pay for the transaction there. 

When you hear phrases like emergency, you know it’s probably a scam. Or if they’re on the ship in the middle of the Atlantic, that’s probably not real.

Trust your gut. If it doesn't feel right, get somebody else's opinion.

Once you start seeing scams, you can recognize them. It really only takes two or three messages back and forth and then you're done and you know it.

[katejohnson]

I know how to spot a scam, I don’t know how to find legitimate people to buy my items 😫

[jimhorne]

I once had a person say their brother would pick up the item and that they would pay with Zelle. I told him, Zelle your brother so he could bring cash. Crickets.

[JBTYpr]

I’ve had a large influx of buyers that “need my phone number so they can send me a code to make sure “I’m real and not a scam” so stupid.

[Highflite]

I only sell or buy on marketplace local. My city has even set up “safe spots” to meet at police department - fire stations etc…I also only deal in cash deals only!

[swissbandent]

Cash is king period! Any other form of payment using online applications is a no no. You as the sender/receiver are not protected unless you pay for the service which makes the whole buying and selling aspect more expensive. Anyone has the ability to cancel and refute a transaction even if it has been cleared. Disputes like this happen all the time which in most cases both parties accounts will be terminated even if fault wasn't yours. Stick with cash! My 2cents.

[pamprier]

Thx, Rob and Melissa every tidbit of info you share with us, makes us all safer, and more likely to be successful.

[cherylwarren]

Thank you for the information. I had a scam just like what you were talking about today and it really shook me up. I rang my son about it and he identified straight away that it was a scam, so I didn’t respond to the scammer from then on. Thanks for putting the information out there.

[rob-]

Set up the meeting in a safe place and accept cash only. Period! The scammers all drop off once you say that.

[midlife_minimalist]

I found if I put in the post, cash only, no payment apps and will only communicate through messenger, the scam messages pretty much go away.

[Itstmera]

Def almost got scammed trying to sell my couch when I was moving. The whole “ I’ll have someone pick it up, I’ll email you the check and you can upload it to your account” was a huge red flag, but it didn’t hit me until later before I almost agreed to it lol. Always trust your gut 👏🏾

[davidholubetz]

I don't buy / sell much but when I do I meet at a public place. I don't want them to come to my home, and I don't want to go to their home. Could be scoping me out, or could pull some shit and there's no witness.

[ChannelScott]

I've been trying to sell a brand new iPad for 2 weeks now. It's been nothing but scam attempts (everything you guys said happened) and I just sat back and laughed. I thought for sure I could sell this thing in a day and still, I sit here trying to sell it lol. I'm probably going to throw it up on eBay, I'm pretty much done with Marketplace, there is just too much drama (same as CL)!

[jonlilley]

Thank you very much for these warnings on scammers. They're all a bunch of scumbags, but they do have to be recognised and avoided if possible. You two are great!

[debbenson]

Thanks for sharing... good info! Im getting ready to list dome items.

[ibstayfly]

Thannk you so much for this

For shipping on fb marketplace do I have to ship the item physically or can someone else ship for me. Honestly I'm not interested in shipping. Or is there a way to sell without shipping

[RawFitChris]

You can always tell it's a scam or scambot when you get dozens of immediate responses with the same form letter question.

[AbarnaMuthupalaniappan]

Thanks for the video👍 All u said in the video is true n seen people like this a lot in recent times. Fed up with selling items in marketplace to strangers.

[SrFlipsAlot]

Had a scammer say he needed my email, to verify a Venmo payment, which I thought was weird, but being new to selling I gave it, then he sends me some weird email saying I need to upgrade to a business account because of account limits. The whole time none of this activity was actually happening on my real Venmo account. I told the dude to give me cash or the deal was off. He says, “Laugh. You can’t be serious.” 😂 I say, “Yep, sure am. Bye scammer.” The cash response sure weeds out the frauds. Wising up to these people so hopefully no more mistakes going forward. Thanks for this video!

[blanko-o]

Thankyu so much you just saved me from a scam I just started selling stuff on Facebook marketplace so thank you for the help

[totalcardetail]

I don't understand how anyone is getting scammed. It's almost common sense. You receive payment, before you release the item to them. If you are the seller, why are you purchasing gift cards in order to receive payment from the buyer? Come! On! It's a cash transaction. Keep it simple!